Burn Ban Lifted in Alachua County

We are happy to share that effective today, May 27, 2026, the countywide burn ban for Alachua County has officially been lifted.

Over the past several days, our area has received substantial rainfall, with additional rain forecast throughout the week. These improving conditions have helped significantly reduce the immediate threat of wildfires across our community. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), which measures dryness in soil and vegetation, has dropped from 618 last week to 415 and is expected to continue declining. While this is great news for our community, we encourage everyone to continue using caution and practicing safe outdoor burning habits. Dry conditions can return quickly, especially during hot and windy weather, and it only takes one spark to start a wildfire.

As Fire Chief Harold Theus shared:
“Recent rainfall has significantly improved conditions across Alachua County and reduced the wildfire risk that led to the burn ban. While the ban is being lifted, we encourage residents to continue practicing safe and responsible outdoor burning to help prevent accidental fires.”

Please continue to follow all local and state regulations regarding outdoor burning and remain mindful of weather conditions before burning outdoors. Thank you, Newberry, for your patience, cooperation, and support throughout this burn ban period. Working together helped protect our neighbors, first responders, homes, and natural areas during a very dry season. We will continue monitoring conditions closely and will provide updates if conditions change.